The VCT 2024 Americas Kickoff playoffs stage starts with the matchup between two old rivals- Evil Geniuses and LOUD. Here are our predictions
With no loser bracket available, this match puts both teams in a make-or-break scenario. The winner secures a spot in Masters Madrid, while the defeated team will face an immediate exit.
Evil Geniuses vs LOUD Semifinal Live
Two top-performing teams from 2023 meet for the first time this season, and the stage couldn’t be grander. This matchup stands out as the most significant encounter of the season so far. A win here would mark a remarkable third consecutive appearance for both teams in VCT international events. So, the stakes have never been higher.
The bracket for #VCTAmericas Playoffs has been revealed! pic.twitter.com/731oEOL9kT
— VALORANT Esports NA (@valesports_na) February 27, 2024
Evil Geniuses vs LOUD Prediction: Favorites vs Underdogs
Both Evil Geniuses and LOUD have carried their stellar performance from the previous season into the current one. Let’s see how the battle will be played out as the two titans of America meet each other for the first time this season.
Who Will Win?
Despite the loss to EG in the 2023 Valorant Champions a few months earlier, LOUD will be coming into this matchup as a slight favorite over the reigning Valorant Champions.
Although both teams are undefeated in the kickoff event so far, LOUD’s victories came against stronger teams. Also, the fact that the current EG roster is relatively less experienced than LOUD plays a big factor in our prediction.
Expected Compositions
Unlike Evil Geniuses, who, thanks to their better seeding, required only one match to get to the Playoffs, LOUD has had to play two matches in the group stage. So, we have a bigger sample size of the Brazilians to predict their composition for the upcoming match.
LOUD are known for their unorthodox composition. The IGL Saadhak has always been the one to introduce new meta to the game. Of the three maps we have seen in their two matches, their Ascent team composition has to stand out the most. The use of Viper is not entirely new, but the choice of Phoenix over Jett and the absence of Sova while running a two-initiator comp is completely unprecedented.
LOUD Ascent Team Comp. Source: VLR
Evil Geniuses, in their only match against G2 Esports, did a lot of experimenting as well. Especially in the map of Icebox, the North Americans surprised everyone by running a double-sentinel and double-initiator composition with no duelist.
EG Icebox Team Comp. Source: VLR
In conclusion, regardless of the maps played, do not expect to see a conventional meta-comp in this matchup.
Head-to-Head
Last year, the teams had an insane rivalry, sharing the stage four times at the biggest VCT events. Right now, the H2H is tied at 2-2, with EG winning both their last two encounters.
Evil Geniuses vs LOUD: Best Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds for the matchup between two of America’s finest
- LOUD win: A win by LOUD is clearly suggested by the decimal odds. LOUD’s odds of 1.18 against EG’s 4.48 lead us to expect a clear 2-0 win for the Brazilians.
- LOUD win first map: Despite LOUD underperforming in the first map against Leviatán, we do not see the same thing happening against EG. Our bet will be a dominating win by LOUD on the first map.
- Total maps: We predict the match to be over in two maps, with the first going to overtime.
Evil Geniuses vs LOUD Preview
Now that you have seen our prediction for the Evil Geniuses vs LOUD encounter, let’s dive into the preview of the matchup.
Evil Geniuses’s Bye In
Winning the Champions 2023 granted Evil Geniuses a bye. As a result, their entry into the playoffs came with a sole victory against G2 Esports in Group C, and, to date, they have only played two maps in the event.
Although they got the job done in the opening match, it was far from smooth sailing. Both maps extended into overtime, with EG teetering on the edge of defeat multiple times throughout the match.
LOUD’s Domination in Group Stage
LOUD started the kickoff event with a dominant display against the fan-favorite Sentinels. They comfortably got past the North Americans with a 13-11 and 13-9 win. In the Winners’ matchup, they were paired against Leviatán, a team widely regarded as this season’s most giant dark horse. Following a back-and-forth battle, Less and Co emerged victorious again to secure their place in the playoffs.
Key Players to Watch
- Less: Known for his impeccable aim, Less was one of the most impactful Sentinel player of last season. He is heavily predicted to be a key player for the Brazilian side again this season.
- Saadhak: The IGL extraordinaire is already making waves in the scene by introducing new meta comps every match. Keep an eye on him in the upcoming match to see some flawless in-game-leading.
- Quick: Tasked with the near-impossible challenge of replacing aspas in the team, Quick is rising to the occasion. So, keep a watch on him to see a frag show.
- Jawgemo: One of the best flex players of 2023 shows no sign of off-form this season. Considering he is the only player to remain from the Champions-winning EG roster, all eyes will be on him this year.
- Derrek: The former 100T player is the only player on the team with VCT league experience other than Jawgemo. The clutch master is showcasing his prowess again this season, so don’t miss out on his performances.
LOUD vs Evil Geniuses: VCT Americas Kickoff 2024 Semifinal Rosters
Evil Geniuses:
LOUD:
- Felipe “Less” Basso
- Matias “Saadhak” Delipetro
- Cauan “cauanzin” Pereira
- Arthur “tuyz” Vieira
- Gabriel “Quick” Lima
- Pedro “peu” Lopes (Coach)
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